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I think the details have to be explained and its boring to see what happens two yearrs later.

But father not wanting to go back to the gate doesn't necessarily hint that he came from there. He once passed through it and maybe just doesn't want to go there again.
But even if it is indeed his origin, it still doesn't explain how he got out of there.

I think for the main villain, his past and motives are (well, now I should write 'were') a bit shallow.

How did he get out? Hohenheim's old alchemist master pulled him out, supposedly using his blood as part of the process... really need more explaination as that...

As for motives... i think he said that quite clearly this past chapter... he wanted to become perfect, and obtain perfect understanding and all that...

When Mei is introduced she is 10-12. All females look younger than they are. Winry and Riza look at most 4 years apart, when Riza is actually around 15 years older.

In the finale, Al and Ed leave 2 years after the fight with father to study the world. Mei should be about 14-15 once Al gets to Xing... 2-3 years after his fight with father. He probably spends some months or year studying there. Travels with Mei when she's 16-18.

The picture in the final page is anywhere from 3-5 years after the fight with father. We don't know how long they spend exploring. Ed has a baby that's at least 1 year old and a newborn. Mei is probably 16-20s in the picture and Al is probably in his early 20s.

Grumman is just a figurehead Fuhrer. Mustang and Armstrong are rebuilding the country. Grumman is there to mediate between them both and to keep an eye on central. Even though both Roy and Olivier seem overly ambitious both kind of hint of wanting democracy down the line. I think Louise mentions how she wanted to donate the Armstrong family home as a palace for a future leader. Mustang wants to end Amestris' warring ways. In the end both probably want a civilian run government since the military dictatorship is kind of passe.

One of the reasons both may have turned down the title of Fuhrer could be what it represents. They may intend to do away with the position and thus chose Grumman to carry the burden since he is of the old generation and is living out his golden years.

There will probably be an OVA or a short series of graphic novels explaining what happens way down the line.

Alex Armstrong for president.

Ed was blinded to Alchemy. Can he still use Alkhestry both from Xing and Ishval? Is there a loophole? Only alchemy without a cirlcle? OAV with Ed sporting Ishvalan tattoos?

Anyhow, Truth is kind of playing the role of a Green Knight. The double talking entity that likes to test people. You answer wrong, he takes his toll. You answer right, he lets you go without punishment and gives you a nice reward. Read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Ed gave Truth something it wanted. He understood it and through his selfless sacrifice and intelligence solved the riddle of Alchemy. Doesn't this make him the most worthy to use Alchemy?

IMO, Ed simply doesn't need alchemy anymore. He's basically been using alchemy all his life and has seen all the horrors alchemy can produce, from committing taboo to witnessing the end of all life. He's finally found his journey's end and alchemy really has no place in it.

At such a young age, his knowledge and profound insight of alchemy and of matter itself is great such that he is able to bind Al's soul to a suit of armour, even daring to attempt resurrecting his mother. Al is no slouch himself and can probably match his brother from time to time, but Ed has simply demonstrated an uncanny level in this field from a very early age.

Spoiler for Ed at the end:

The fact that he loses the ability to make use of his intellectual gift is perhaps one of the more ironic things to happen along with Roy (temporarily) losing his ability to see. In a way, it is quite saddening, but perhaps there lies a message somewhere underneath..?

I do wonder however, what lies in the future for him now. If he has to get into some sort of tussle, he would have to improve and rely on his fighting abilities to compensate his inability to use alchemy. But more importantly, what will he put his life into now, and what kind of career path will he lead from here on?

No what i liked was that the original anime ending wasn't a totally happily ever after ending. People can talk crap all day along about the alternate universe bs but they had the right idea for the ending, But it's execution was not flawless.

No what i liked was that the original anime ending wasn't a totally happily ever after ending. People can talk crap all day along about the alternate universe bs but they had the right idea for the ending, But it's execution was not flawless.

As much as I like the first series and ends with a bitter touch .. no that ending was bull from my perspective. It's my main qualm with the first series. It doesn't fit the established story.

I'm very satisfied with this ending because it falls in line with everything the series was about. It stuck to it's themes, instead of throwing them out just for the hell of it. But

Spoiler for 108:

I immediatly thought about how Ed transmuted himself in the first series to save Al when he went to the gate in 108.

I also loved how it was pointed out, that Ed can't just sacrifice himself, because that would place Al in a hell of a loneliness.

Well, your mileage my vary, but I loved this end and the message and feeling it delivered. Just my opinion

I am sorry but the ending of this series was not happily ever after either. Maybe people who think that should re-read it

Spoiler:

Just because Ed and Winry find some happiness and get married does not mean everything is perfect. While the ending is hopeful the characters are still working to build a better future.

Ed no longer has his alchemy ability and he has to get by with that
Ed and Al are traveling around the world to try to find a way to help people's whose lives were destroyed with alchemy (Nina call back)
Roy and Scar are working to solve the Ishval issue
Grumann is working to fix things in Central
Mrs. Bradley is raising Selim (who is still a homunculus)
Ling still has an entire country to look after

In fact minus the ridiculous other world ending and not caring about Winry the manga actually has some similarities with the end of the first series. In that even after the final battle the characters still have to work to better their world. Oh no the manga didn't need to tell us things are not "perfect" like the first anime did.

Actually, the "not caring about Winry" bit has always been my biggest pet peeve with the first series. I still love it for what it was, but that has never gone down all that well with me. Also, I wholeheartedly agree that the ending of the manga wasn't all that overly sappy. It was quite in touch with the story overall - even the lack of "closure" to Roy and Risa's relationship. Loved every single moment of this, myself.

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It's always a great time to immerse yourself in Deculture love! All hail the Empress!!!

Actually it was a bit too happy... yeh they all are working to make things betetr and all but that's a life. You do all that on constant bases, there is no such thing where you can simply lay down and do nothing especially in politics and militarry.

Spoiler for do we still need them?:

Everyone got what they wanted, the only thing that kinda makes it not so happy is the fact that Izumi still misses her organs and Ed misses his leg... that's basicly the only thing that kept it from being super happy.

P.S. I actually started to like the idea of blind Roy too...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

Also about ages and I am putting this outside a cut because it is not a spoiler. Mei's age was never given in the series. I am not sure why people assume she was a small child just because of her looks. Mei acts much older than a child. There is no way a young child would have been able to do all that Mei accomplished in the series. Most likely she is just very small for her age just like her panda Xiao Mei is extremely small for a panda.

You were not watching enough TV, some kids at age 5 are more clever than those at age 30... one of the basic rules when kids are included.

And that rule is very common in all anime, almost none character looks and acts at the age they are presented. Take same GTO which I like so much, I would never give them 14 in any form. Or same Yoko from Gurren Lagan.

So chances of Mei being around 10 are not that small.

Though I don't see huge problem with that considering that in pic she has to be at least 16 by now... My uncle and aunt had 10 years difference and my mother's friend has about 20 years difference with her husband yet they have two kids...

Ed can no longer perform alchemy something that has defined him throughout the series

And so what that they all get what they wanted. That doesn't mean now life is easy for them. And actually they didn't all get what they wanted

Spoiler:

Izumi still cannot bear children, Roy is not the leader of the country, the Chimeras did not get their bodies back yet.

As for Roy getting his eyesight back he lost it so unfairly in the first place. He did not perform human transmutation by his free will.

Quote:

So chances of Mei being around 10 are not that small.

I think they are very small because we see how young children act in this series. We had Nina and Elicia for that. Mei is an expert alchemist and she traveled on her own to another country. She was obviously a bit older than her appearance indicated. I would say she is no younger than 12. Either way though we were never given her age so I will think what I want and you can think what you want.

And? Now he will enjoy a peaceful life. It's not like he needs it now and he isn't too depressed about it either. I don't really see huge drama here. I would say Ed ending up in different universe was far more dramatic in the 1st season anime.

I did mention those parts:

Spoiler for 108:

Besides that man is old, Roy will get his place once he dies.

Still problem was sold very easily.

As I said ending is not bad, it does has "not perfect" parts, but still looks happy... a bit too much... its not like I'm bashing it.

Bah it was a little sappy. I don't mind though, to be honest I would've had it no other way. A grand epic has finally come to an end, something thats taken.. what, like 9 years? I'm glad that Arakawa went for a happy ending, tying up the loose knots etc. etc. and having everyone live happily ever after.

I think they are very small because we see how young children act in this series. We had Nina and Elicia for that. Mei is an expert alchemist and she traveled on her own to another country. She was obviously a bit older than her appearance indicated. I would say she is no younger than 12. Either way though we were never given her age so I will think what I want and you can think what you want.

-points at TV- like if there are not normal kids too.

Actually forget TV, take real life. There are kids at age 10 who are smarter than those in their 30s. Exceptions of rules.

Mei might be one of them. Besides it looked like her life was hard, children mature really quickly in such circumstances.

Well yes it was a loss. But I thought Ed saying "I was it's puppet" (with a mile) made it clear it's really not such a big loss at all and in a way it even freed him. It's not what he needs.

Also he likes his automail leg As hinted at XD

And how does he need it for research and traveling? There are no superhuman people hunting him anymore

Spoiler:

I never said he needed alchemy to function or that he would need it on his travels.

Yes I am sure that he can get by just fine without alchemy. However I think you are misinterpreting what Ed said when he said "I was its puppet". That doesn't mean alchemy was something he hated. All he is saying is he can get by and does not have to rely on alchemy always fixing things for him. Instead as the scene on the roof indicates he has to take his time and learn new ways to get around things.

Just because Ed doesn't get depressed that he lost his alchemy skills doesn't mean it wasn't a loss. As I said he looks on the bright side of things and from this loss he may gain something new. Not giving up has always been a theme of this series.

And the fact of the matter the series indicates that Ed (like Al) is still researching alchemy. He just won't be able to use it himself.

edit: Cutting out the part about Mei's age because I realized I am probably just going to go in circles and it doesn't really matter how old people think she is.

I think the difference in our interpretations is that I don't think he just pushes himself, but genuinly doesn't see it as a big loss himself. Just like he doesn't really care about his metal leg.

Just like you said: He still researches alchemy, he just can't use it anymore. You think of it as a big disadvantage, I don't. I see the scenes at the gate (with him smiling the whole time) and him on the roof (discovering the view in front of him) leaving a positive note .. and not just him sucking it up.
But I agree on him learning to get by without it; as he said 'taking his time'.

I personally loved the ending (though I wish it could have been fleshed out a bit more but that might have gone on too long then). While it is a happy ending, I am glad that it's more of a "there is hope for the future" happy ending than just a "Yay everyone falls in love and gets what they want" end.

Spoiler for :

I am glad however that Ed doesn't get his real leg back in the end, though I am not sure how I feel about Roy getting his eyesight back. I did especially love how Roy's contemplation scene when talking to Marcoh, had a flashback to Kimbley's words during the war.